APC Crisis: Buhari blackmailed into recognising Giadom as acting chairman – NWC

The National Working Committee (NWC) has alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari was blackmailed into recognizing Victor Giadom as the national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Mr Buhari had yesterday declared support for Mr Giadom whom he said was the leader of the party in the eyes of the law. He said he took the decision after receiving convincing legal advice pertaining to the leadership crisis rocking the ruling party since Adams Oshiomhole stepped aside.

Mr Oshiomhole who was initially suspended by a Federal High Court had his suspension upheld at the Appellate Court. Since he left the saddle of leadership in the party, the APC has been engulf in crisis as to who is the authentic leader. While Giadom draws his power from the court order which suspended the former Edo State governor, the NWC in accordance with the party constitution, appointed Senator Abiola Ajimobi as replacement.

Mr Ajimobi who is currently indisposed has Hilliard Eta standing in for him pending his recovery from suspected Coronavirus complications.

The Eta led NWC while kicking against the National Executive Council (NEC) of the APC scheduled to take place today at the Presidential Villa said the president was blackmailed into backing Mr Giadom.

The faction in a statement signed by Eta and its National Secretary, Waziri Bulama, said the planned NEC meeting is illegal and its members will not be attending it.

“We wish to unequivocally state that members of the National Working Committee (NWC) believe that the President was offered wrong advice or blackmailed into lending his weighty office to the illegality of the National Executive Committee meeting purportedly convened by one Victor Giadom on 25th June, 2020,” the statement read.

“We hereby respectfully implore Mr President to kindly avail himself with facts of the matter regarding the impasse presently experienced by the Party so as to guide him in his assessment of the matter because we are sure that the President if properly advised, would come to the conclusion that the meeting convened by Chief Victor Giadom bothers on illegality and criminality.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) regrets to turn down the invitation to the illegal and unconstitutional National Executive Committee (NEC) convened by Chief Victor Giadom.

“We believe that attending such a meeting will amount to embracing illegalities and turning a blind eye to the infractions on the Constitution of our great Party,” it added.